Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission Ad hoc Seal Expert Group SEAL 11-2017 Gothenburg, Sweden, 4-7 October 2017 Document title Registered mortality of marine mammals 2008-2016 Code 6-1 Category CMNT Agenda Item 6 Human induced pressures and management of marine mammals Submission date 20.9.2017 Submitted by Secretariat Background This document contains registered mortality numbers for Baltic marine mammals from years 2008 to 2016 (tables 1 to 9). The data are also available in as an Excel file attachment via the Meeting document Library. Action requested Contracting Parties are invited to provide updates to the tables on registered mortality numbers of marine mammals and especially to fill in the information for the year 2016 (table 9). Updated information may be submitted to the Secretariat (minna.pyhala@helcom.fi) prior to the meeting of SEAL 11-2017. Page 1 of 14
Registered mortality of seals 2008-2016 SEAL 3-2009 decided to construct a table containing information on deliberate killings and numbers of hunted, by-caught and stranded seals and agreed that the table should be further developed and updated during future meetings of the Seal expert group (Outcome of the Meeting, paragraph 4.2). The figures have been collected with the aim to begin showing temporal trends as the data increases, while working towards presenting data for seals in a parallel way in a map service as for harbour porpoises (Outcome of SEAL 4-2010, paragraph 2.5). SEAL 6-2012 pointed out that it is important to include methods that have been used to collect the data to increase comparability of the data to the tables. SEAL 7-2013 stated that the figures on by-catch included in the human induced mortality tables are far smaller than the actual numbers and expressed doubt as to the usefulness of compiling information on by-catch in the way it is currently done. SEAL 8-2014 changed the name of the tables from human induced mortality to registered mortality. The total number of registered mortality of marine mammals in years 2008-2016 is presented in Figure 1 below. Figure 1. Total amount of registered mortality by marine mammal species from years 2008-2016 as reported by the HELCOM Seal expert group. Annual mortality data are presented in tables 1-9 and in the Attachment 1 (Excel file available via the Meeting document Library). Page 2 of 14
Table 1. Registered mortality of seals in 2008. Species Country Geographical area Intentionally Stranded By-caught** Gear type Data Comments killed i * provider Grey seal DE Mecklenburg-Vorpommerns 11 DMM DK South-western area 3 0 trawl NERI Of the 3 stranded animals 2 were euthanized due to bad health condition EE 97 EEB 80 ad 17 juveniles, adults are probably by-caught FI 503 RKTL Hunted 484, scientific sampling 19. The figure includes 221 seals hunted on Åland Islands. RU Gulf of Finland 9 BFN SE 132 SEPA Protective hunting 128, scientific sampling 4 Gulf of Bothnia 3 12 Push-up trap (4), trawl (7) SMNH Baltic Proper 5 17 whitefish net (1), float net (1), SMNH cod net (1), turbot net (2), eel net (11) 24 1 HMS Harbour seal DE Mecklenburg-Vorpommerns 4 DMM DK South-western area 10-15 108 0 trawl NERI Of the 108 stranded animals 27 were euthanized due to bad health condition SE South-western area 8 SEPA Protective hunting close to fishing gear Southern area 3 SMNH 1 HMS Ringed seal EE Southern area 11 EEB Probably bycatch FI Northern area 17 RKTL Scientific sampling 12, protective hunting 5 RU 1 BFN SE Northern area 46 SEPA Scientific sampling 46 1 HMS Unknown 2 HMS SE Gulf of Bothnia 12 SMNH Baltic Proper 27 SMNH Total 716-721 322 30 Page 3 of 14
Table 2. Registered mortality of seals in 2009. Species Country Geographical area Intentionally Stranded By-caught** Gear type Data Comments killed iiiii provider Grey seal DE Mecklenburg-Vorpommerns 8 DMM DK Southwestern area 0 0 0 DFNA FI 632 HCO 44 scientific sampling, 588 hunted 10 1 Cod gillnet HMS SE 129 SEPA Quota 242 Gulf of Bothnia 2 19 SMNH Baltic proper 8 17 Harbour seal DE Mecklenburg-Vorpommerns 6 DMM DK Southwestern area? 86 Danish Forest and Nature Agency Protective hunting close to fishing gear. Of the 86 stranded animals 21 were euthanized due to bad health condition. 0 HMS SE SW Baltic 20 SEPA Quota 20 Baltic proper 3 4 Ringed seal FI 35 HCO Scientific sampling 0 HMS SE Gulf of Bothnia 3 SMNH Gulf of Bothnia 3 SMNH Scientific sampling Unknown DE Mecklenburg-Vorpommerns 3 DMM 1 HMS SE Gulf of Bothnia 22 SMNH Baltic proper 22 SMNH West coast 9 SMNH Total 819 180 44 Page 4 of 14
Table 3. Registered mortality of seals in 2010. Species Country Geographical area Intentionally Stranded By-caught** Gear type Data Comments killed (lost)* provider Grey seal DE German Baltic Coast 0 15 1 DMM, ITAW DK South west 0 2 FI Åland Islands 145 Archipelago Sea 71 Gulf of Bothnia 223 6* FGRI *Only the ones from which FGRI has received samples Gulf of Finland 56 2* FGRI *Only the ones from which FGRI has received samples SE Gulf of Bothnia 75 (5) 4 14 SEPA, SMNH Baltic proper 28 (7) 3 39 SEPA, SMNH West coast 1 SMNH RU Gulf of Finland 3 BFN Harbour seal DE 0 22 0 DMM, ITAW DK South west 5 7 2 of the stranded seals were euthanized SE Baltic proper 1 8 SMNH West coast 48 (3) 2 SEPA, SMNH Ringed seal FI Gulf of Bothnia 1** 1 FGRI **Bothnian Bay Gulf of Finland 1 FGRI SE Gulf of Bothnia 5 SMNH Baltic proper 1 SMNH Unknown DE SE Gulf of Bothnia 2 SMNH Baltic proper 20 SMNH West coast 4 SMNH Total 652 (15) 48 78 Page 5 of 14
Table 4. Registered mortality of marine mammals in 2011. Species Country Geographical area Intentionally Stranded By-caught** Gear type Data Comments killed* provider Grey seal DE German Baltic Coast 0 9 1 DMM, ITAW DE Schleswig-Holstein 2 0 DK South west 6 FI Gulf of Finland 56 Gulf of Bothnia and the 83 Quark Bothnian Bay 113 South West Archipelago 38 Åland 90 42 includes by-catch SE 74 SEPA, SMNH Gulf of Bothnia 10 11 SMNH Stranded: 8 only reported Baltic proper 22 51 SEPA, SMNH Stranded: 12 only reported West coast 0 0 SMNH RU Gulf of Finland 3 BFN Harbour seal DE 0 13 0 DMM, ITAW DE Schleswig-Holstein 7 0 DK South west 156? NST 14 euthanised SE 88 Baltic proper 11 4 SMNH Stranded: 7 only reported West coast 11 0 SEPA, SMNH Stranded: 11 only reported Ringed seal FI Bothnian Bay 5 hunting with special permits SE 2 Gulf of Bothnia (2) 3 SMNH Stranded: 1 only reported Baltic proper 0 0 SMNH Harbour porpoise DE Schleswig-Holstein 55 5(14) bycatch 5 suspected bycatch 14 Unknown DE 9 SE Gulf of Bothnia (4) SMNH Stranded: 4 only reported Baltic proper (18) SMNH Stranded: 18 only reported West coast SMNH Stranded: 15 only reported Total 549 298 (24) 78 (14) Page 6 of 14
Table 5. Registered mortality of marine mammals in 2012. Species Country Geographical area Intentionally Stranded Reported bycatches** Gear type Data provider Comments killed* Grey seal EE German Baltic coast To be confirmed by the end of October 2013 DE 0 13 0 DMM, ITAW DE Schleswig-Holstein 2 0 DK 5 1 euthanized on beach FI Gulf of Finland 48 9 FWA Gulf of Bothnia 88 7 FWA GoB: 80: Bothnian Bay: 8 South West Archipelago 41 2 FWA Åland 114 FWA 15-20 To be confirmed by end of October 2013 45 SE Gulf of Bothnia 65 4 14 SEPA, SMNH Stranded: 3 only reported Baltic proper 29 27 44 SEPA, SMNH Stranded: 20 only reported Kattegat and the Sound 0 0 0 SMNH RU Gulf of Finland BFN Harbour seal DE German Baltic coast 0 8 0 DMM, ITAW DE Schleswig-Holstein 7 0 DK 16 107 >3 Gillnet NST 25 euthanized on beach 1 SE Baltic proper 1 6 6 SMNH Stranded: 3 only reported Kattegat and the Sound 13 11 1 SEPA, SMNH Stranded: 11 only reported Ringed seal DK FI Bothnian Bay and the Quark 12 FWA Hunted with special permits 0 SE Gulf of Bothnia 4 1 22 SMNH Baltic proper 0 1 2 SMNH Harbour porpoise DE Schleswig-Holstein 53 2(1) Bycatch: 2 Suspected bycatch: 3 Unknown DE SE Gulf of Bothnia 6 SMNH Stranded: 6 only reported Baltic proper 13 SMNH Stranded: 13 only West coast 12 SMNH Stranded: 12 only reported Total 431 338-342 >112(1) Page 7 of 14
Table 6. Registered mortality of marine mammals in 2013. Species Country Geographical area Intentionally killed* Stranded*** By-caught** Gear type Data provider Comments Grey seal DE Mecklenburg-Pomerania 15 2 DMM, ITAW DE Schleswig-Holstein 3 0 DK South west 10 Nature Agency FI Gulf of Finland 25 FGFRI Bothnian Bay 14 7 FGFRI Quark and Gulf of Bothnia 59 FGFRI South West Archipelago 37 1 FGFRI Åland 104 Baltic Proper 96 9 Hel Marine Station SE Gulf of Bothnia 75 9 7 SEPA, SMNH Stranded cases1+8 reports Baltic proper 28 30 23 SEPA, SMNH Stranded cases: 7 necropsied+23 additional reports West coast SMNH RU Gulf of Finland BFN Harbour seal DE Mecklenburg-Pomerania 19 2 DMM, ITAW DE Schleswig-Holstein 11 0 DK South west 3 89 Nature Agency Baltic Proper SE Baltic proper 8 5 SMNH Stranded cases: 4 necropsied+4reports West coast 90 29 1 SEPA, SMNH Ringed seal DE Mecklenburg-Pomerania 1 1 DMM, ITAW FI Bothnian Bay 5 5 FGFRI Baltic Proper 2 Hel Marine Station SE Gulf of Bothnia 2 5 SMNH Baltic proper 1 2 SMNH Harbour porpoise DE Schleswig-Holstein 83 1(4) Bycatch: 1, Suspected bycatch: 4 Unknown DE Baltic Proper 9 1 Hel Marine Station SE Gulf of Bothnia 4 SMNH Baltic proper 18 SMNH West coast 11 SMNH Total 443 447 72(4) Page 8 of 14
Table 7. Registered mortality of marine mammals in 2014. Species Country Geographical area Intentionally killed* Stranded*** By-caught** Gear type Data provider Comments Grey seal DE Mecklenburg-Pomerania DE Schleswig-Holstein 2 0 DK South west 0 cf cmnt cf cmnt 15 in total (stranded or bycaught) FI Gulf of Finland 43 Bothnian Bay 97 Bothnian Sea and Quark 28 Quark and Gulf of Bothnia South West Archipelago 41 Åland 115 All 32 Baltic Proper 0 52 6 HEL marine station SE Gulf of Bothnia 65 7 12 SMNH Stranded: 2 necropsied, 5 only reported (altogether 7) Baltic proper 45 50 22 SMNH Stranded: 43 only reported West coast 0 0 0 SMNH RU Gulf of Finland Harbour seal DE Mecklenburg-Pomerania 1 HEL marine station DE Schleswig-Holstein 10 DK South west cf cmnt cf cmnt 38 (s or bycaught, including euthanized seals) Baltic Proper 1 SE Baltic proper 0 23 9 SMNH Stranded: 2 only reported West coast 139 394 0 SMNH Stranded: 386 only reported Ringed seal DE Mecklenburg-Pomerania FI Bothnian Bay 9 Baltic Proper 1 HEL marine station SE Gulf of Bothnia 2 3 17 SMNH Stranded: 1 only reported Baltic proper 0 1 1 SMNH Stranded: 1 only reported Harbour porpoise DE Schleswig-Holstein 98 (7) Suspected bycatch: 7 Bycatch: 0 Unknown DE Baltic Proper 7 HEL marine station SE Gulf of Bothnia 0 SMNH Baltic proper 49 SMNH Stranded: all only reported West coast 60 SMNH Stranded: all only reported Total 584 757 94(7) 53 stranded or bycaught Page 9 of 14
Table 8. Registered mortality of marine mammals in 2015. Species Country Geographical area Intentionally Stranded*** By-caught** Poaching Gear type Data provider Comments killed* Grey seal DE Mecklenburg-Pomerania 7(8) (3) Stranded: reported: 15, verified: 7, Bycaught: 3 suspected DE Schleswig-Holstein 2 0 DK South west EE Baltic proper 11 FI Gulf of Finland 76 Bothnian Bay 30 Bothnian Sea and Quark 16 Quark and Gulf of Bothnia South West Archipelago 35 Åland 123 All 280 LT Baltic proper 13 3 4 Baltic Proper 66 2 Stranded: 64 not verified SE Gulf of Bothnia 145 5 5 SMNH Baltic proper 138 48 25 SMNH Stranded: 40 only reported Bycaught: 13 only reported West coast 0 0 0 SMNH RU Gulf of Finland 51 33 Harbour DE Mecklenburg-Pomerania 9 Stranded: reported: 9, verified: 5 seal DE Schleswig-Holstein 13 1 DK South west Baltic Proper SE Baltic proper 2 12 7 SMNH Stranded: 2 only reported Bycaught: 1 only reported West coast 167 48 0 SMNH Ringed seal DE Mecklenburg-Pomerania FI Bothnian Bay 14 Baltic Proper SE Gulf of Bothnia 56 3 12 SMNH Bycaught: 1 only reported Intentionally killed: min number Baltic proper 0 0 1 SMNH RU 3 Harbour porpoise DE Schleswig-Holstein 84 16 Bycatch: 8 Suspected bycatch:8 Page 10 of 14
DE Mecklenburg-Pomerania 43 1 Stranded harbour porpoise: 43 reported, 27 verified 3 Unknown DE Mecklenburg-Pomerania 5 Baltic Proper 2 not verified LV Gulf of Riga 208 SE Gulf of Bothnia 0 4 0 SMNH Baltic proper 0 32 1 SMNH Bycaught: 1 only reported West coast 0 43 0 SMNH Total 1093 704(8) 107(3) 4 Page 11 of 14
Table 9. Registered mortality of marine mammals in 2016. Harbour seal Intentionally killed* Stranded*** By-caught** Poaching Gear type Data provider Comments 21 DMM 4 of the stranded animals showed signs of by-catch (cut open etc.) 7 ITAW 82 5 1 gillnet Bothnian Bay 40 5 Luke, FWA Bothnian Sea 4 1 Luke, FWA Quark and Gulf of Bothnia 4 FWA South West Archipelago 32 1 Luke, FWA Åland 73 FWA Species Country Geographical area Grey seal DE Mecklenburg- Pomerania DE Schleswig- Holstein DK South west EE Baltic proper FI Gulf of Finland All LT Baltic Proper Baltic Proper SE Gulf of Bothnia 115 10 9 Baltic Proper 87 35 15 West coast 0 1 0 RU Gulf of Finland DE Mecklenburg- Pomerania DE Schleswig- 4 ITAW Holstein DK South west Baltic Proper SE Baltic proper 0 8 2 West coast 64 43 0 RU Gulf of Finland Ringed seal DE Mecklenburg- Pomerania Luke, Finnish wildlife Agency (FWA) http://www.regeringen.ax/sites/www.re geringen.ax/files/attachments/page/res ultat_skyddsjakt_2016.pdf Page 12 of 14
Harbour porpoise Unknown FI Bothnian Bay 87 4 Luke Baltic Proper SE Gulf of Bothnia 89 3 1 Baltic proper RU DE Schleswig- 169 10 ITAW Holstein DE Mecklenburg- 29 4 DMM 2 of the stranded animals showed signs Pomerania of bycatch SE Gulf of Bothnia 0 0 0 0 - NRM/Sweden - 10 strandings reported to NRM, 1 to the Swedish Species Observation System. All Baltic proper 0 11 0 0 - NRM/Sweden dead porpoises washed ashore are reported as strandings, even if the cause of death later has been determined to bycatch. FI West coast 0 53 1 0 Bottom set gillnet Gulf of Finland 10 Luke NRM/Sweden 47 strandings reported to NRM, 6 to the Swedish Species Observation System. All dead porpoises washed ashore are reported as strandings, even if the cause of death later has been determined to bycatch. Most of unknown observations are without photo and therefore its is not possible to verify species. Bothnian Bay 16 Luke Quark 1 Luke South West Found from shoreline, all 5 seals were 7 5 gill net Luke Archipelago tangled into same net. DE Mecklenburg- Pomerania 1 Minke whale most probably a ship collision LV Institute of Food safety, Animal Baltic Proper 37 5 Health and Environment "BIOR" & Nature Conservation Agency Gulf of Riga 240 50 BIOR SE Gulf of Bothnia 5 Baltic proper 31 West coast 30 Page 13 of 14
Total 677 788 103 * All intentional killing included in the table is legal and licensed. In Denmark and Sweden, all of that killing is protective hunting to protect fisheries and in Finland hunting is differently licenced for grey seal and ringed seal. All seal hunting in Finland has protective meaning and conflict with the fisheries is the most important basis in the consideration process of issuing licences (Paragraph 3.6 in the Minutes of HELCOM SEAL 6/2012). ** The data on by-catch is opportunistic and represents only minimum numbers (Paragraph 3.5 in the Minutes of HELCOM SEAL 6/2012). *** Monitoring of stranded seals is carried out in Germany and Sweden and Finland since 1.6.2016 by https://lomakkeet.luke.fi/hylje. Page 14 of 14